Pig-rearing device.



UNITED STATES FRANCIS SMITII AND EDVARD W.

Patented June 2, 1903.

,CI-IEOK, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

PIG-REARING DEVICE.

u SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 729,688, dated J' une 2, 1903.

Application filed March 9, 1903.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANCIS ySMITH and EDWARD W. CHECK, citizens of the United States,residing at Cedar Rapids, in thecounty of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Pig- Rearing Devices, of whichl the following is a specification.A

This invention relates to artificial means for suckling and nurturing young animals, particularly pigs, and comprises apparatus by means of which the young animal maybe taken at any age and be easily and safely reared entirely apart from the dam.

In the raising of pigs it often happens that it is not safe or practicable to leave them to the natural care of the dam. She may have the propensity, quite common among sows, of killing her own young. She maybe heavy or lazy and smother them by lying on them. She may be sickly or givefeverish milk unt for them or she may die in giving them birth. In all such cases or others in which it is desirable to separate the pigs from the sow articial means must be employed to suckle the litter or they must perish. It is the purpose of this invention to provide simple and efficient means by which such a litter, however young, may be taken and suckled and after a short period of suckling be taught natu` rally and easily to drink, when no furtherspecial care is required.

The nature of the invention will fully appear from the description and claims following, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view in perspective of a device embodying our invention in position for use. Fig. 2 is a crossfsection of the same, with the top thrown back, in the plane of the line a a. Fig. Sis a perspective view of one of the drinking-troughs. Fig. et shows one corner of the tank-cover and the manner in which the drinking troughs or pansare retained therein when not in use.

In the drawings, A is a rectangular box,

' made preferably of galvanized iron, and having three compartments. The upper one, B, is open at one side, and is adapted to receive the cover C, which is hinged to the box at D. The middle compartment is a tank for the liquid-food supply and is accessible through the ioor of the upper compartment, which is provided with a suitable cover F. From `this tank E project short tubular nozzles G, enlarged at the outer ends to take rubber nipples H. These are preferably arranged `in a double row and at a suitable height for the young pigs, the lower rowcommunicating with the tank by short tubes G. The lowest compartment has an opening at one or both ends, preferably both, to take one or two drawers I, which may be fastened in closed position for transportation in any suitable way, as bya button J. a heated brick or piece of soapstone K is placed, in this drawer and serves to warm the apparatus and the food therein.

The cover C is made with two sides at right angles, as shown, and has flanges L, shutting down outside the box. Itis also provided .with ends M, which are flanged at N, and in lthe receptacle so formed are placed two pans O O, by means of which the young animals are weaned from the nipples and taught to drink from a trough. To the bottoms of the pans are secured short studs R, similar in form and size to the nozzles already described, but solid. Over these are placed the nipples as in position for suckling. The pans are then partially filled with the milk or other liquid food with the ends of the nipples exposed, as shown.` When it is desired to wean the young animals from suckling, the pans are placed in position for them. They naturally seize the nipples, but get no food from them. In nosing about they dip their snouts in the milk and are soon sipping a little from outside the nipples. From this the step to actual drinking is easy and natural. The nipples are then entirely removed, and the litter drinks from the pans until such time as they may be placedat an ordinary trough.

A simple latch or hasp Pservesto hold the cover in closed position, and handles Q at each end of the box permit its being easily carried from place to place.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with suckling apparatus, substantially as described, having a receptacle for the weaning device, a weaning device, comprising a food-pan, nipple-studs attached In cold weatherv IDO thereto, and removable nipples adapted for attachment to said studs, and projecting normally some distance above the surface of the food.

2. The combination with one or more weaning-pans, substantially as described, of a suck- -ling apparatus, substantially as described,

having a hinged cover with a receptacle therein adapted to hold said weaning-pans when not in use.

3. A pig-rearing device, coinprisinga metal box having a food-tank with nipple-nozzles projecting therefrom, nipples adapted for attachment thereto, drawers below the food- 

